Lt Col Robertson was born on 28 October 1894 in Geelong Victoria. He served in the 23rd Battalion (Bn) in WW1 as a Lieutenant and was awarded a Military Cross (MC). Between the wars, he served in the militia and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and battalion commander.

On 17 October 1940, he was appointed Commanding Officer and given the task of forming the 2/29th Bn. Just a few weeks after his appointment, training commenced at Bonegilla before the battalion moved to Bathurst on 24 February 1941 for final training in Australia.

The Battalion was shipped to Singapore on board the transport ship SS Marnix, embarking from Melbourne on 30 July 1941.

Col Robertson Memorial Headstone - Kranji War Cemetery Singapore

After arrival in Singapore on 15 August 1941 the Battalion conducted extensive training in both Singapore and Malaya. The Battalion went into battle against the Japanese at the Battle of Muar on 17 January 1942 and although hopelessly outnumbered they held the Japanese advance for 6 days. On 18 January 1942 Lt Col Robertson was riding pillion passenger on a motor cycle in an attempt to report to 45th Brigade Headquarters at Bakri. Unfortunately he and his driver were severely wounded on encountering a Japanese road block and within a short time of returning to the 2/29th lines, Lt Col Robertson died of his wounds.

His memorial headstone is located in the Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.

The Last Post ceremony for Lt Col John Charles Robertson 2/29th Battalion was held on 29th June 2024 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra - watch the ceremony here.